Paneled display for airplane wing surfaces



Nov. 11, 1952 L. c. M cARTY, JR., ETAL 2,617,220

PANELLED DISPLAY FOR AIRPLANE WING SURFACES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 21. 1948 LEWIS c. MC'CARTY, HAROLD a FELIO.

ATTQRNEY Nov. 11, 1952 L- C. M CARTY, JR., ET AL PANELLED DISPLAY FOR AIRPLANE WING SURFACES Filed Sept. 21, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 LEWISVC. Mc CARTY, JR. HAROLD g FELIO' ATTO R N EY Nov. 11, 1952 c. MCCARTY, JR., ET AL 7, 0

PANELLED DISPLAY FOR AIRPLANE WING SURFACE S Filed Sept. 21, 1948 i 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS LEW!$ C. MC CARTY JR: HAROLD G. F ELIO ATIQRNEV 1952 L. c. MCCARTY, JR., ETAL 17,

PANELLED DISPLAY FOR AIRPLANE wmc SURFACES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 21, 1948 LEWIS C. .MC CARTY, JR. HAROLD G. FELIO ATTOR N EY Patented Nov. 11, 1952 PANELED DISPLAY FOR AIRPLANE WING SURFACES Lewis G. McCarty, Jr., and Harold G. Felio, New York, N. Y., assignors to The Marine Aircraft Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 21, 1948, Serial No. 50,412

Claims. 1

This invention is an airplane for displaying advertisements or news by means of signs composed of luminous gas-filled tubes, commonly called neon tubes, and also involves certain structural details of the plane and the mounting of the sign on the plane.

According to this invention the underside of the Wings of the plane carry a plurality of panels, from about twelve to twenty, for example, each panel consisting essentially of a composite monogram letter, composed of a combination of neon tubes. The neon tubes of each panel may be selectively lighted, so that any panel may be lighted to show any letter of the alphabet or any numeral. The entire group of panels are simultaneously lighted, to show a word or words containing up to about twelve to twenty, or more, letters and numerals.

The neon tubes of each monogram sign are connected and controlled so that the tubes may be selectively lighted for displaying the letters of the alphabet and the usual nine numerals. One way of so doing is shown in our copending application filed August 19, 1948, Serial Number 45,056 now U. S. Patent 2,583,184. In that application, the tubes are connected in series and each is provided with a short-circuiting bypass, so that tubes not needed are cut out, while those needed for the letter are in circuit and show the desired letter or numeral. However, the present invention is not limited to any particular manner of controlling the lighting of the neon tubes.

One of the important features of the invention is that the neon tubes are mounted in a panel carried on the lower surface of the wings, which panel is provided with recesses of about the same diameter, or preferably a little deeper, than the diameter of the neon tubes, so that the tubes may be nested in these recesses, with their outer portions substantially flush with the outer surface of the panel. The outer surface of the panel is flush with the lower surface of the airplane wing, thereby minimizing wind resistance and drag. The tubes are conveniently mounted in these recesses by resilient shock absorbing collars for protecting them against breakage. If desired, the space around the tubes may be filled in with a filler, conveniently of some form of plastic, to make the undersurface of the panel as nearly flat as possible to still further minimize wind resistance. The plastic would, of course, be so applied as to leave the lower or outer portions of the tube exposed.

One of the important features of the monogram sign itself is that the two outer tubes of the sign diverge laterally and outwardly toward the top of the sign, these diverging tubes being particularly useful in forming the letter W. The upper and lower portions of the sign also each contain concentrically arranged arouate tubes, each of which subtends an arc of about The airplane is preferably the type having two nacelles which are provided with rudders extending laterally and outwardly therefrom, the space between the rudders being free, which free space may be utilized for towing an advertising banner.

The airplane used may be provided with the usual ailerons, in which case the monogram panels would be shorter than the distance between the leading and trailing edges of the wing. However, in a modified form of the invention where ailerons are not used, and where larger letters are desired, the monogram panels could extend for the full fore and aft distance between the leading and trailing edges. In a still further modified form, the panels may extend well beyond the trailing edges of the wings and they may also extend laterally between the wing tips.

In the forms of the invention just described, where ailerons are not used, lateral control of the plane is achieved by the usual spoilers mounted on top of the plane, the use of which is well understood in this art.

In a further modification of the invention, a central supporting frame work may be provided in cooperation with the nacelles for supporting another sign showing one or more words, and also simulating, for example, some article of manufacture, such as a bottle, a ball-point pen, a razor blade, a cake of soap, etc.

While the mounting of the sign is primarily for use on airplanes, certain features thereof are capable of use on other vehicles, such as the sides of railway cars and motor trucks, and capable of use on buildings and stationary signboards.

Certain features of the invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a view from below of the airplane of this invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are sectional views showing details of the tube mounting;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of one of the monogram signs;

Fig. 6 is a view from below of a modified plane of this invention;

Fig. 7 is a view from below of another modification;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view, showing a modified form of luminous tube;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view modification wherein a small airplane of known design carries a single monogram letter.

The airplane of Fig. 1 comprises the usual wings 2, nacelles 4, fuselage 5, and rudders and stabilizers 6. Supplemental struts I ar'e'pr'ovided for additional support.

The underside of each wing is provided with 1 panels for monogram letters indicated generally at 8, the number of these being determined, of course, by the size of the panels and the length of the wings. Each panel 8 is provided with a monogram letter indicated generally at H) in Fig. 5, and being composed of neon tubes ll connected in series, the electrical junction points for the several tubes being indicated by the capital lettersA to S, inclusive. The'outermo'st pair of tubes, indicated at 12, extend for the full height of the sign and diverge upwardly and outwardly and are particularly for main forming the letter W in combination, of'course, with the tubes OH, l-IB, BJ, and JQ.

The upper half of thesign is provided with four arcuate tubes [4, each of which suhstends an arc of about 90 and the lower half 'of the sign has a similar set of tubes [6.

The tubes of this sign may be selectivelylighted as described more fully, in application Ser. No. 45,056, filed August'lQ, I948, forshowingany letter of the alphabet "and the usual numerals.

Each panel 8 comprises a sheet'o-f material, preferably metal, which may actually be the lowor surface of the airplane wing or which may be set into suitable shallow recesses in the lower surface of the airplane wing. Panels 8 may be provided with an integral marginal strengthening rib 53, by means of which they may be secured to the under surface 54 of the plane by bolts 3, anchored to the beams inside the wings. These panels 8 are provided with grooves 18 of a depth preferably a little greater than the diameter of the tubes H so that when the tubes are in the recesses, the outer parts of the tubes are substantially flush with the outer surf-ace of the panel. The tubes maybe-provided with resilient collars of sponge rubber, for example, shown at 2%, provided with securing clips 2| for holding them in place. The surfaces of the recesses may be coated with areflectin'g material, such as chromium or nickel, for example, or with a fluorescent material, for increasing the efiectiveness of the tubes. The spacebetween the tubes I! and the walls of the recesses may, if desired, be filled in with any suitable plastic material 22, so that the surface of the panel is sub stantially smooth and flat, thereby minimizing wind resistance and drag. Y b

The bottom of the grooves l8 may be apertured at intervals, as shown at IS in Fig. 2, for-receiving the bent ends H of the tubes. These ends are provided with the usual metallicelectrodes 24 for engagement with contac'tclips 26, the described parts being enclosed in an insulating housing 28. I g

In the modifioati-onshown in Fig. 6, the monogram panels are shown as extending beyond the trailing edges 32 of the wings, With modern wing designs, known in the art, letters of low speed, of the order of about 60 to miles per hour.

In Fig. 6 the outer-most panels 30' actually extend beyond the wing tips 33.

. Where the signs extend beyond the trailing edge and beyond the wing tips, the usual ailerons are not used, the upper surface being provided with the usualspoilers 34, Fig. 8, for lateral stability, as is well understood in this art.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7, the plane may be provided with a rearwardly extending frame, indicated generally at 40, supported in part by the na-oelles and the wings, for carrying one or more signs 42 which conveniently may be made of neon tubes, in the actual shape of some article of manufacture such as a soft drink'bottle, a calre'o-fsoap, a'razor blade or the like. This sign '42 also preferably provided with letters 44, composed of neon tubes. This sign usually remains fixed, that is, it is not changed every few minutes, as are the monogram letters 10.

In the modification shown in Fig. 9, the gas tube l I is surrounded and encased by a transparent or translucent plastic material 50, which may be -clear,or may be of any desired color, in accordance with the efiect desired. This material 50 maybe applied by dipping, or by molding with a thermoplastic or th'ermo-settin'g resin or plastic. The plastic jacket 58 also is preferably reenforced with wires '52 of substantial tensile strength, extending longitudinally and parallel to the axis of the tube H and molded in place. This plastic jacket forms a strong, integral structure, resistant to bending and secure against splintering and scattering in the event of breakage.

In the modification shown in Fig. 10, a small airplane of any desired type carries on its underside a single large monogram letter ll], of the type shown in Fig. 5. Such a monogram letter would be flashed every few seconds, to show the desired sequence of letters, for spelling words, being operated by any convenient type of controller, one type being shown in our application Ser. No. 45,056, filed August 19, 1948, now U. s. Patent No. 2,583,184. The vertical axis of the letter could be parallel to or transverse of, the longitudinal axis of the plane. In this form of monogram letter, and in order to save weight, the vertical groups of tubes 0A and Q0 of Fig. 5 are preferably omitted and only the outer, slightly inclined tubes OM and QR are used.

There has thus been provided several types of airplanes for carrying a substantial number of monogram letters, inset into the lower surface of the plane to minimize wind resistance, whereby a large number of such letters may be carried without unduly increasing the weight of the plane. The entire group of letters may be changed every minute or so as described in our oo-pending application Ser. No. 45,056 filed August 19, 1948 now U, S. Patent No. 2,583,184, thereby producing a conspicuous and eye catchmg sign, particularly adapted for night time use.

While for convenience, the gas-filled tubes are described as neon tubes, this is illustrative only and it should be understood that any desired type of luminous gas tubes could be employed.

While the invention has been described in some detail, it should be understood that the invenrality of straight and arcuate luminous tubes.

arranged in composite pattern so as to form when selectively energized in appropriate combination individual indicia characters, said metallic panel being provided with an integral marginal strengthening rib to receive fastening means whereby said device may be attached to a structural element of an aircraft in a position such that during flight the contact of air with said panel will develop at least a portion of the force to sustain the Weight of said device, said panel being also provided With inwardly disposed channel portions having a light-transmitting surface extending linearly complementary to said composite pattern, the overall dimensions of said channel portions being substantially equal to the overall dimensions of the panel to provide reinforcement for the panel, the depth of said channel portions being at least as great as the outside diameter of the luminous tubes, and securing means for supporting said tubes within said channels to minimize wind resistance.

2. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 1, in which said securing means includes plastic material disposed in a channel portion, the exposed surface of said plastic material being disposed flush with the load-bearing surface of the panel.

3. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 1, in which said securing means includes a layer of light-conducting plastic material completely enclosing said luminous tubes to reinforce them.

4. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 3, having a reinforcing metallic wire imbedded in said plastic material and disposed substantially parallel with the axis of the tube,

5. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 1, wherein said metallic panel is adapted to be received in an aperture provided in a lower surface of an aircraft, said panel when received in said aperture being disposed flush with said lower surface.

LEWIS C. MCCARTY, JR. HAROLD G. FELIO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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